At a recent Youngstown City Council meeting, three speakers were given five minutes each to make a presentation. Two of the speakers talked for over seven minutes.
At many meetings in our community, a timekeeper gives a signal when the time limit is approaching. Council should enact a similar system.
Is what they are saying on topic and is what they are saying important?
If the person talking is making an important contribution should they be shut up after a couple of minutes?
Can you make a contribution, getting all your points across in a couple of minutes? I know that I'm not so skilled that I could.
How about putting an Egg Timer on the table and start it ticking when the person begins to speak... unless
what they are saying is important (and ON TOPIC, as Towntalk said below) when the timer goes DINNGGGG
they are outta time.
Next speaker, please....